A high unmet demand for after-school programs exists in areas of concentrated poverty in the United States and action should be taken to meet the need, according to a new report from the Afterschool Alliance.

More than 20 million children live in areas of concentrated poverty in the United States, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures.

Many children in these high-need areas are not being served by the very programs that could help them do better in school and in their lives, according to a new report by the Afterschool Alliance.

Only one in four children in poor neighborhoods is enrolled in an after-school program, said Jen Rinehart, vice president of policy and research for the Afterschool Alliance.

“Lots more would be enrolled if programs were available,” she said.

The information is based on a survey or more than 30,000 households as part of the organization’s America After 3PM survey. More than half of children in areas of concentrated poverty who are not enrolled in after-school program would be if programs were available, the survey showed.

After-school programs “serve as a lifeline” to families, Rinehart said. They enable parents to work and their children to have a safe place.

Sixty-one percent of parents in these communities said it was hard to afford after-school programs.

While some parents paid reduced fees, a majority had to pay at least $61 per week, and 46 percent pay $80 to more than $100 per week, according to the report.

The new law also provides funding for student support in after-school programs through

Title I “Targeted Assistance to Schools.”

The message from the Afterschool Alliance: Use this money.

“If we are serious about providing equal opportunity and building a workforce that can compete in a 21st century global economy, we must ensure that our most vulnerable children do not miss out on the supports and opportunities afterschool programs provide,” Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant said in a statement.

Archives

Categories

Youth Today is the only independent, internationally distributed digital media publication that is read by thousands of professionals in the youth service field.

Youth Today adheres to high-quality journalistic standards, providing readers with professional news coverage dedicated to examining a wide spectrum of complex issues in the youth services industry from legislation to community-based youth work.

EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE

Our organization retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue.

DONORS & DONOR TRANSPARENCY

We are committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization. Donors may be quoted, mentioned or featured in our stories. Our news judgments are made independently – not based on or influenced by donors. Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services or opinions…(read more)